Vogue Philippines July 2024 covergirl Bianca Bustamante has been burning rubber since age three, when she did laps in a go-kart under the watchful eye of her motorsport-obsessed father.

Today, Bustamante is on Louis Vuitton’s radar, sponsor of the Vogue Phillipines cover story styled by Caterina Ospina, working with fashion director Pam Quiñones.

In the cover image above, Bianca stands in front of the legendary McLaren MP4/8, the car Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna drove during his 41st and final Formula One career victory.

Photographer Sharif Hamza [IG] was thrilled to take his camera to the Bustamante fashion shoot, writing on IG: “As a long-time F1 fan, this was one of the most exhilarating shoot days I’ve ever experienced.”

Louis Vuitton Escalating Sports Focus

CEO Pietro Beccari told CNN in early June that Louis Vuitton has a long and growing association with sport, sponsoring nautical events like the Americas Cup, as well as launching a recent campaign centered on tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“We are very close to sport,” Beccari said, recalling the slogan “Victory travels in Louis Vuitton,” the fashion house used when one of its trunks housed the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

“Willing to Bleed” for Best Woman in Formula 1

Returning to the Vogue Philippines cover girl, Bustamante began racing against boys at age six. Her life story has been challenged in recent weeks with claims that her family is far more prosperous than the narrative published in earlier interviews.

There is no doubt that the aspiring Formula 1 champion was on very difficult times resulting from the Covid pandemic and a downturn in her family’s business interests.

There are no challenges around her competency or determination.

Today Bustamante, age 19, is competing on the racetrack at 220 miles an hour, living her dream as a McLaren driver in the women-only, F1 Academy in the McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England. She is laser-focused on becoming the most successful female motorsport driver ever.

“I’m willing to bleed for it,” she told Stylist’s ‘Strong Women’ column in mid-June. “To get to Formula 1, I’m willing to risk everything – I’m going to give 100% so I don’t have any regrets that I could have worked harder further down the line.”

After reading endless monthly features about young, multi-millionaire women’s anxiety, misery and preoccupation with imposter syndrome, reading that Bianca Bustamante is “willing to bleed” to reach her goal gave Anne an old-school women jolt. This girl has backbone.

Kismet and Mentorship

What we know for certain is that Bianca is ready to roar and she cannot be consumed with imposter syndrome driving at 220 mph. The Brazilian champion Senna, who car is featured on the Vogue cover, died in a raceway crash in 1994, at age 34.

Reading the Vogue Philippines cover story by Audrey Carpio, it’s clear that Bustamante has plenty of kismet in her life. She was definitely struggling during the pandemic, as was her family. The downturn in the young driver’s fortunes was noticed on social media by an older colleague and fan.

Darryl O’Young, an accomplished racing driver from Hong Kong, noticed on social media that she had stopped competing and decided to reach out. Darryl immediately recognized the determination that was bubbling in her, and through his motorsport marketing agency he helped restart her career.

On the subject of self-doubt and all the psychological traumas facing someone like Bianca Bustamante, do read the entire Vogue Philippines interview. Recognizing her true grit determination to excel as a Formula 1 racecar driver, the team of psychologists, nutritionists, stress management specialists and countless other professionals now dedicated to her success at the F1 Academy is impressive.

Remember — Formula 1 has no gender-related restrictions.

It’s a boys club for sure, with few women making the cut. With the wind at her back now, armed with a deeply-grounded, psychological focus on winning, and a world-class team offering counsel and enthusiastic, proactive ‘You can do it’ support, Bianca Bustamante is ready for takeoff. Terrific, inspiring story! ~ Anne